Collapsible boxes



Sept. 27, 1960 D. BENNETT COLLAPSIBLE BOXES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 file Jan. 2, 1959 DA v10 561717871- ,4 I'I'Of/YEYS Sept. 1 7, 1960 D. BENNETT COLLAPSIBLE BOXES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1959 INVENTOR. V DAV/0 BEN/V677 A TTOP/YEYS COLLAPSIBLE BOXES Patented Sept. 27, 1960 "ice Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the paper locks in released position;

David Bennett, Valley Stream, N.Y., assignor to-'Modern Millinery Box Corp., Brooklyn, N. a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 2, 1959, Ser. No1$4,749

' 2' Claims. (c1. zz9-4i This invention relates to collapsible boxes, and particularly is concerned with boxes which preferably are made from cardboard or the like and are used to contain large, light items such, for instance, as ladies hats, flowers, etc.

In general, boxes of this type constitute four, six or eight side walls and a bottom wall, the top of the box being open and adapted to be closed by either a fully removable cover or a hinged cover. The bottom wall is centrally foldable and certain portions thereof are connected by pairs of gores to certain of the side walls of the box in a fashion such that when the halves of the bottom wall are folded upon themselves, they draw together the side walls of the box, thus compacting the box into a long flat bundle. The box is opened simply by opening the bottom wall thereof, the gores forcing the side walls away from one another. Although these boxes have proven very popular and have been used for many years, they are subject to one serious defect which has materially inhibited their utilization. This is that after the boxes are opened they can be accidentally closed simply by pressure against certain opposite side walls or pressure against the bottom of the box. This often has caused inconvenience to customers, causes cancellations of sales of merchandise already inthe boxes, and has tended to create a resistance to the use of these boxes.

It is the object of my invention to provide a box of the character described which incorporates a very simple,

collapse of the box. I

It is another object of my invention to provide in a collapsible box of the character described a paper lock which is integral with the box blank.

It is a further object of my invention to provide in a box of the character described a paper lock which will tend to be more firmly secured in position when the box is full; that is to say, a paper lock which, if touched or engaged by the contents of a box, will tend to be urged to a more secure locking position.

It is another object of my invention to provide in a box of the character described a paper lock which will not increase the cost of the box except for a slight additional charge for correction of the steel rule die that is employed to cut the box blank.

Other objects of my invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

My invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the box hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an opened collapsible box embodying my invention, the same being illustrated with a removable cover string-tied thereto;

Fig; 2 is a perspective phantom view of the opened box showing the detailsof its construction;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the bottom of the box partially collapsed; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the bottom of the box still further collapsed;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged'sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view through a portion of the fully collapsed box; and

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a blank from which the box is made.

I easily manipulated, paper lock for preventing accidental Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 denotes a hexagonal box in which my invention is embodied. To a very large extent the box is conventional; indeed, it is conventional in everything except the paper locks hereinafter to be described. Nevertheless, to simplify understanding of my invention there will be given in the following portion of the specification a brief description of the standard parts of the box. This description can be most easily followed by reference both to the constructed box 10 itself and to the box blank 12. The box is made from a single blank 12, i.e., a blank consisting of but a single piece of semistiif, light material, cardboard being preferred. The blank is cut from a larger piece of such material in a conventional manner as, for instance, with a set of steel rules which cut out the edges of the blank, cut out the openings within the blank, and form fold, i.e., crease, lines within the blank.

Specifically, the box includes a bottom wall 14 constituting two sections 16, 18 which are mirror images of one another, the sections being joined by a central crease line 20 to form a hexagonal shape. Each side of the hexagon constitutes one edge of the bottom of the box and one edge of a different side wall of the box. The side walls of the box are formed by the panels 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32, all of which are identical rectangles. It may be mentioned at this point that if the box is other than hexagonal, the bottom wall will be appropriately shaped and the side walls will have individual lengths which match the corresponding edges of the bottom wall. I

The panels 22, 24, 26 are arranged in sequence, the panel 22 being joined to the panel 24 by a crease line 34 and the panel 24 being joined to the panel 26 by a crease line 36. These three panels conjoin to form an elongated strip which is located alongside one edge of the hexagonal bottom, the panel 24 being directly joined to this edge by a crease line 38. The panel 22 is located by one end of said edge and the panel 26 by the other end of said edge. In a similar manner, the panel 28 is joined to the panel 30 by a crease line 40 and the panel 30 to the panel 32 by a crease line 42. These latter three panels likewise conjoin to form an elongated strip lying alongside an edge of the hexagonal bottom parallel to and remote from the edge to which the firstnamed strip is joined. The latter strip is joined to said remote edge of the hexagonal bottom by a crease line 44 with the panel 28 lying by one end of said edge and the panel 32 by the other end of said edge.

It thus will be appreciated that the centrally foldable hexagonal bottom and the two sets of three sidewall panels lying on oppositesides of said bottom and extending parallel to the bottom crease line 20 form a symmetrical blank which can be folded up by suitable manipulation to the shape of an enclosure with a hexagonal bottom and six matching sidewalls. T

The box also includes the gores mentioned earlier which connect certain of the side walls to certain of the edges of the bottom so that the side walls will collapse when the bottom is collapsed and-will open'whenwthe bottom is opened, all as is well known. For this .pur pose, in the box being described I provide four pairs of gores, including a first pair of gores 46, 48. The gore 46 is joined to the bottom edge of the panel 26 by a crease line 50 and to the gore 48 by a crease line 52. The gore 48 is joined to an edge of the bottom .panel by a crease line 54. The gores aremirror images of one another, and the crease line 52 runs to the junction between the crease lines 50 and 54. A second pair of gores 56, 58 are similarly interposed between and join the panel 22 and the corresponding side edge of the bottom wall. A third pair of gores is denoted by the reference numerals 6t), 62. The gore 60 is joined to an edge of the bottom wall by a crease line 64 and to the gore 62 by a crease line 66. The gore 62 is joined to the bottom edge of the panel $2 by a crease line 68; These gores are identical in construction .and in their connections to the associated side wall and edge of the bottom wall as the gores 46, 43 and 56, 58 but have been separately described because the paper locks soon to be mentioned cooperate with the gores 6t 62. A fourth pair of gores '79, '72 are located between the remaining side wall panel 25 and remaining edge of the bottom wall. The gore 7G is connected to the edge of the bottom wall by a crease line 74 and to the gore 72 by a crease line 76. The gore 72 is connected to the panel 28 by a crease line 78.

One of the elongated strips, e.g., the elongated strip constituted by the panels 28, 30, 32, has extending from one end thereof a tab 86 and from the other end thereof a tab 82. The latter tab conveniently may be in the form of a handle. These tabs are used to permanently join the ends of said strip to the ends of the other strip. In the form of box being described, to assist in this joinder and to aid in forming a more solid handle, an end of the other strip made of the panels 22, 24, 26 likewise is provided with a handle tab 84 which exactly matches the handle tab 82.

In making the box after the blank has been cut out, the tab 80 is joined to the associated free end of the other strip, this constituting the free side edge of the panel 22. Similarly, the two handle tabs 82, 84- are permanently secured to one another. The securement of the tab 80 to the panel 22 and of the two handle tabs 82, 84 to one another may be effected in any manner well known to the art, e.g., with staples or, preferably, with adhesive. The gores 46, 56, 62, '72 are secured, as by glueing, flat against their associated side walls 26, 22, '32, 28.

The box as thus far described is entirely conventional.

In collapsed position, which is partially illustrated in Fig. 9, each pair of gores is opened and constitutes a co-planar extension of its associated half of the bottom wall. The opened gores and associated half of the bottom wall lies flat against the associated strip of side wall panels. They also lie flat against the other half of the bottom wall and its associated and now opened gores. Thus, the collapsed box constitutes four plies, these being the two elongated strips of side walls and the two halves of the bottom Wall, each of the latter including at opposite ends thereof pairs of opened gores.

To open the box either the crease line 20 is pushed toward a surface or the side walls 24, 359 are pulled apart. This has the effect of fully opening the bottom wall and, at the same time, of collapsing the gores toward one another, so that the four side walls 22, 26, 28, 32 are brought in to stand adjacent their associated side edges of the bottom wall.

The box thus consists of a collapsible ring of an even number of foldably interconnected side walls and a foldable polygonal bottom wall joined directly to two opposite side walls and through pairs of gores to the remaining side walls.

To prevent the box from collapsing accidentally from pressure against the crease line 2%) or a side wall 24 30, I have in accordance with my invention provided paper locks. These are constructed and arranged to be operatively engaged subsequent to full opening of the box and to prevent movement of at least one of the side walls 2 2, 26, 28, 32 away from its associated side edge of the bottomwall, such movement of all of said side walls being necessary for collapse of the box.

More particularly, I provide paper locks which are associated with one or more pairs of gores, preferably at least two pairs of gores, connected to the same strip of side walls and which looks will prevent the opening of the gores and thereby prevent movement of one of said side walls away from its associated side edge of the bottom wall. As shown herein, the paper lock takes the form of a triangular tab 86 which is connected to the outer edge of the gore 62 by a crease line 88. A similar tab 90 is connected to the gore 72 by a crease line 92. If desired, similar locking tabs could be connected to the gores 46, 56, but I have not found them to be necessary. When the box is fully opened but prior to locking thereof, the tabs 86 and 90 are erect and are located adjacent the walls 32, 28, respectively, as can be seen in Fig. 3. At this time, due to the folded position of the associated pairs of gores 60, 62 and 70, 72, the gore 62 to which the tab 86 is connected and the gore 72 to which the tab 90 is connected are concealed respectively behind the gores and 70, these latter being exposed. The tab 86 is so shaped and dimensioned that when it is folded about the crease line 88 to lie flat against the gore 66), the long free edge 24- thereof will be substantially coincident with the crease line 64 joining the gore 60 to a side edge of the bottom wall. Similarly, the tab 90 is so shaped and dimensioned that when it is folded down to overlie the gore 70, its long free edge 96 will be substantially coincident with the crease line 74 joining the gore 70 to a side edge of the bottom Wall.

Furthermore, each locking tab 86, 90 has extending from its free edge 94, 96 a stub elongated protuberance 98 which is approximately as high, i.e., which extends approximately as far away from the free edge 94 or 96, as the thickness of the cardboard of the blank. For cooperation with these protuberances two slots 100, 102 are formed in the blank 12, these slots being located on the crease lines 64, 74, respectively, which join to the side edges of the bottom wall the gores 60, 70 that are overlaid by the paper lock tabs 86, 90 when the latter are moved to locking position. The slots 100, 102 are of the proper length and thickness and properly located snugly to receive the protuberances 98. Accordingly, after the box has been fully opened as indicated in Fig. 3, the paper locks which initially in opening position are erect are swung down to snap the protuberances 98 into the slots 1%, 102 as illustrated in Fig. 2. This prevents accidental opening of the pairs of gores 60, 62 and 70',

72 so that the box cannot be accidentally collapsed.

To collapse the box from the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the paper lock tabs are manipulated to withdraw the protuberances from the slots and erect the locking tabs as illustrated in Fig. 3. Then force is applied upwardly against the crease line 20. At first this partially raises the crease line as indicated in Fig. 4, slightly bringing the side walls 24, 30 toward one another and begining to separate the crease lines joining the gores to the side walls and bottom wall. Continued application of pressure brings the box to theposition indicated in Fig. 5 where the collapsing movement is pronounced. Still further movement fully collapses the box.

It thus will be seen that I have provided a box which achieves the various objects of my invention and is well adapted to meet the conditions-of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention and as various changes might be made in the embodiment rbove set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A paper lock for a collapsible box including a foldable bottom wall having an even number of uniform sides and a ring of an even number of uniform side walls certain of which are directly joined by crease lines to side edges of the bottom wall and others of which are joined to other side edges of the bottom wall by sets of foldable gores of which one gore of each set is permanently held fast against the associated side wall, each such set when the box is in open position having all but one of its gores concealed between a side wall of the box and said one gore, said one gore being connected to an associated edge of the bottom wall by a crease line, whereby the box will maintain itself in open position except when subjected to pressure against the bottom of the box or against the side walls joined directly by crease lines to the side edges of the bottom wall: said paper lock comprising a panel fixedly hinged to at least one of the side walls, said panel having a free edge remote from the hinge, a tongue extending from said free edge, and means providing a slot adjacent a peripheral portion of said bottom wall, said slot being located in the bottom wall in said crease line joining one of said gores to an associated edge of the bottom wall, said tongue and slot being selectively and releasably interlockable to prevent relative movement of said side wall and said portion of said bottom wall, said free edge engaging said bottom wall along said last named crease line.

2. A paper lock as set forth in claim 1 wherein the panel comprises a tab foldably connected to an outer free edge of a hidden gore and swingable over the exposed edge of the exposed gore to a position in which the free edge of the tab is substantially coextensive with the crease line joining said exposed gore to the associated edge of the bottom wall, said crease line having the slot therein for reception of the tongue on the tab.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,367,410 Lighter Ian. 16, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 158,551 Australia Aug. 30, 1954 

